Cannes Film Festival 2026 l Press Release 3

© MANDARIN & CIE  ELEPHANT STORY  ESPACE PRODUCTION / crédit photo : Michael CROTTO

May 7, 2026

• Cinéma de la Plage (Films on the Beach) – 2026 l Official Selection

The surprise world premiere screening of Michel Leclerc’s new film Les Caprices de L’Enfant Roi (Molière, Cyrano and the Young King), starring Artus, Doria Tillier, Julia Piaton and Franck Dubosc, will light up the Cinéma de la Plage 2026.

In total, 11 films including Top Gun for its 40th anniversary, screenings of the two Palme d’Or winners from 1966 (guess which ones?), the return of Ken Loach, a tribute to Carlos Saura, and Viva Maria! by Louis Malle, as part of a tribute to Brigitte Bardot organized by the City of Cannes on Place Macé, which will become Plage Brigitte Bardot.

Every evening at 9:30 PM, the Cannes Film Festival reinvents itself after dark, transforming Macé Beach on the Croisette, opposite the Majestic Hotel, into an open-air cinema. As part of the Official Selection, just steps from the Palais des Festivals, it offers another way – open to everyone – to take part in the grand celebration of cinema! Exceptional event: Cinéma de la Plage will host a world premiere screening of Les Caprices de L’Enfant Roi by Michel Leclerc, with the entire film team in attendance to share a special moment.

THE PROGRAMME

WEDNESDAY MAY 13th

TOP GUN

Tony Scott

1986, 1h50, United States

To mark its 40th anniversary, Tony Scott’s high-flying classic returns to the big screen in Cannes this year. With adrenaline-filled aerial sequences, unforgettable characters, and an iconic soundtrack, Top Gun remains a landmark of popular cinema. Featuring the role that made Tom Cruise a star, and breathtaking visuals, it is still a legendary cinematic experience.

Screening in the presence of Frédéric Moget, Managing Director of Paramount Pictures France, and Charles H. Rivkin, CEO of the Motion Picture Association (MPA).

THURSDAY MAY 14th

SHINKANSEN DAIBAKUHA

(The Bullet Train / Super Express 109)

Junya Sato

1975, 2h32, Japan

500 passengers, a Shinkansen racing at full speed between Tokyo and Hakata, and a bomb set to explode if it drops below 80 km/h. The country is on high alert to avert disaster. This 250 km/h action thriller that inspired Hollywood—from Speed to Unstoppable—comes full throttle to the beach!

The film was restored from a 4K scan of the original 35mm negative using a high-precision ARRISCAN system by TOEI LABO TECH CO., LTD.

Screening in the presence of Kota Saka (Toei Company, Ltd.).

FRIDAY MAY 15th

WORLD PREMIERE

LES CAPRICES DE L’ENFANT ROI

(Molière, Cyrano and the Young King)

Michel Leclerc

2026, 1h58, France

1651. Louis (not yet XIV) is a young teenager. As the Fronde threatens, his mother Anne of Austria decides to smuggle him to safety and replaces him with a lookalike.

Entrusted by D’Artagnan to Cyrano de Bergerac, Louis is hidden within the theater troupe of Madeleine Béjart and Molière.

While Madeleine and Cyrano discover a shared passion for the young Molière, Louis discovers life and its pleasures, art and work, courage and strategy—everything that will shape him into the Sun King.

Screening in the presence of Michel Leclerc, Artus, Franck Dubosc, Julia Piaton, Doria Tillier, Suzanne de Baecque, Niels Hamel-Brochen, Nemo Schiffman.

The film will also be screened as a Special Screening in the Salle Agnès Varda on Thursday, May 14 at 9:00 p.m.

SATURDAY MAY 16th

UN HOMME ET UNE FEMME

(A Man and a Woman)

Claude Lelouch

1965, 1h42, France

A man, a woman, a meeting that defies chance and time on the beaches of Deauville. A fragile love suspended between passion and restraint, made eternal on screen. A film to fall in love with on the beach, in the presence of Claude Lelouch, celebrating the 60th anniversary of his Palme d’Or.

Presented by Les Films 13, with support from Cartier.

New 4K restoration carried out for the film’s 60th anniversary by Éclair Classics laboratory, based on 4K scans of the original 35mm negative (color and black & white). This new restoration involved a complete overhaul of the digital work as well as a new 4K color grading, carried out by Alexandra Nou (Éclair Classics), supervised by director Claude Lelouch and Carol Oriot-Couraye (Les Films 13). Project manager: Karine Grebet (Éclair Classics).

The sound restoration was handled by L.E. Diapason, based on the original 35mm mono magnetic track.

Screening in the presence of Claude Lelouch.

SUNDAY MAY 17th

ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN

(Les Hommes du Président)

Alan J. Pakula

1976, 2h18, United States

With screen legends Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman, this is the story of the investigation into the Watergate scandal that led to President Nixon’s resignation. This gripping political thriller, in Competition at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival, returns to the beach. A must-see!

Presented by Park Circus. This restoration was carried out from the original 35mm negative, scanned in 8K for exceptional image quality. Each frame was carefully restored to remove imperfections and ensure a flawless screening.

The film was then color graded in HDR, based on a period reference print to preserve its original look. The result offers a more precise image, with enhanced contrast and colors.

The original mono soundtrack was also restored from the best available sources, delivering a clear audio experience suited to modern theaters.

Screening in the presence of the Park Circus team.

MONDAY MAY 18th

VIVA MARIA !

Louis Malle

1965, 2h02, France / Italy

In a Central American country called San Miguel at the beginning of the 20th century, Maria I and Maria II meet, forming a theatrical duo before embarking on a revolutionary struggle. A surprising variation on revolution, blending comedy and western, starring Jeanne Moreau and Brigitte Bardot.

Screening in the presence of Nicolas Seydoux, President of Gaumont.

This screening is co-organized with the City of Cannes, whose mayor David Lisnard will unveil a plaque on Macé Beach in honor of Brigitte Bardot.

TUESDAY MAY 19th

LAND AND FREEDOM

Ken Loach

1995, 1h49, United Kingdom / Spain / Germany

Spring 1936. David, a disillusioned young activist from Liverpool, joins the Spanish Republican forces to fight against Francoism. A film about revolutionary commitment and the struggle against fascism.

4K restored version.

Screening in the presence of Ken Loach.

WEDNESDAY MAY 20th

CRÍA CUERVOS

Carlos Saura

1976, 1h45, Spain

In a silent house, a child watches the adult world crack under the weight of secrets, grief, and illusions. In dreams and memories, innocence becomes unsettling—almost disturbing. In Competition at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival, Jury Prize winner, the film’s emotional power will be present.

This version was restored in 2026 by the Cherry Towers laboratory (Madrid) from the original image and sound negatives, scanned in 4K. The entire process was carried out by Video Mercury Films, which also handled the color grading as well as the digital restoration of both image and sound.

Screening in the presence of the singer Jeannette – who will perform the iconic song Porque te vas from the soundtrack of the film – along with the director’s children, Antonio and Anne Saura.

THURSDAY MAY 21st

SIGNORE & SIGNORI

(Ces Messieurs Dames / The Birds, the Bees and the Italians)

Pietro Germi

1966, 2h00, Italy

Between polished hypocrisy and barely concealed desires, the Italian bourgeoisie drops its mask… and more. Lies, affairs, and biting satire: when respectability slips, everything becomes deliciously scandalous. The second Palme d’Or of 1966, to be enjoyed with humor!

Courtesy of the Cineteca di Bologna and Orium SA.

FRIDAY MAY 22nd

JE HAIS LES ACTEURS

(I Hate Actors)

Gérard Krawczyk

1986, 1h30, France

In 1940s Hollywood, a film shoot is torn apart by its tyrannical producer, paranoid director, star engaged twenty-four times, an actor refusing to age, and a strange series of murders. A wacky satire of Hollywood’s golden age, with the director in attendance for the film’s 40th anniversary.

2K restoration carried out from the original image and sound negatives by Éclair Cinéma for Gaumont.

Screening in the presence of Gérard Krawczyk.

SATURDAY MAY 23rd

MON ONCLE

Jacques Tati

1958, 1h56, France

Gérard, the son of the very proper Mr. Arpel, loves spending time with his dreamy, bohemian uncle, Mr. Hulot. Cinéma de la Plage closes with a great classic of French comedy, winner of the Special Jury Prize at the 1958 Cannes Film Festival. A film with a truly unique style!

The 4K digitization of the image and sound elements, as well as the film’s restoration and color grading, were carried out by L’Image Retrouvée, with the support of the CNC. This work was supervised by the teams at Les Films de Mon Oncle (Margaux Chalançon and Jérôme Deschamps) and at Studiocanal (Sophie Boyer and Jean-Pierre Boiget).

In the presence of Macha Makeïeff and Jérôme Deschamps, founders of Les Films de Mon Oncle, and Juliette Hochart, Head of Catalogue at Studiocanal.

This now well-established event is open to festivalgoers and the public alike, with a curated “warm-up” each evening: the duo TwinSelecter. Rock, pop, soul, funk, punk, mambo, electro, film soundtracks, jazz, disco, psych, hip-hop, garage – everything you need to get in the mood before the screening!

Advertorial l #TKMU Season 2 Participant l Anuradha Gupta

By - Rani S.

• Talennt Ka Maha Utsav Season 2

My name is Anuradha Gupta. I am a Shalini Fellow at Udayan Care, Greater Noida chapter, and a third-year B.A. student at Mihir Bhoj PG College. I belong to Katehra village in the Dadri area of Greater Noida.

My father, Hiralal Gupta, and my mother, Savitri Devi, have always encouraged me to pursue education and move forward in life. With their constant support, I am steadily working towards achieving my goals.

During my college years, I have been actively involved as an NSS volunteer. As part of this, I got the opportunity to participate in a 10-day adventure camp in Himachal Pradesh, where I learned important values like discipline, courage, and teamwork.

Through Udayan Care, I also got the opportunity to participate in a three-day “Celebrating Change” event in Pune, focused on promoting gender equality. Additionally, I successfully completed a three-year STEM Learning course, which helped me develop my technical and creative skills.

Based on these experiences, I actively participated in exhibitions and idea pitching platforms, and I was also selected to take part in the prestigious “Coolest Projects” event held in Hyderabad.

I believe that continuous learning and hard work are the keys to success. In the future, I aspire to work in the field of social service and youth development, so that I can make my family and society proud.

Talennt Ka Maha Utsav

#TKMU is a potent talent-platform and talent-show that gives each participant definite deliverables. #TKMU celebrates not only the participant but their parents as well,

World should know the hard-work parents put in!

Press Release l Ministry of Defence

• DRDO opens CBRN Field Training & Demonstration Centre in Delhi

Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) opened the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) field training and demonstration Centre at Burari plains in Delhi on May 06, 2026. Inaugurated by Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat, the centre aims to further enhance preparedness for radiological & nuclear exigencies.

The training and demonstration center will be a unique DRDO-CBRN-Centre of Excellence comprising various state-of-the-art facilities. These include dedicated radiological and nuclear test bed facility & heavy ion research facility, along with emergency medical response and real-time field response units.

The centre is part of upcoming CBRN Centre of Excellence under the Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Allied Sciences (INMAS) and dedicated to effective training of responders from Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, National Disaster Management Authority and various other agencies involved in CBRN exigencies preparedness and crisis response. Through training and workshops, INMAS will prepare the next generation of specialists to carry forward the work to the front-line as well as ensure the enrichment by introducing latest techniques & technologies.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Director General Soldier Support System Dr Upendra Kumar Singh; Director General (Production Coordination & Services Interaction) Dr (Smt) Chandrika Kaushik; Director General Resource & Management Dr Ravindra Singh and Corporate Directors along with other dignitaries and scientists.

Press Release l Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

• India to host International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit, on 1st – 2nd June, 2026, in New Delhi
• Union Environment Minister launches Website and Logo of IBCA Summit, 2026
• Shri Bhupender Yadav calls upon Big Cat Range Countries not yet part of IBCA to join Alliance for securing future of these Species
• Summit will strengthen International Partnerships, promote South-South cooperation in Big Cat conservation: Shri Yadav

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav launched the website and logo for the 1st International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit 2026, in New Delhi today. During the event, he also released a promotional film on the Summit. Several Heads of Mission of Big Cat Range Countries, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of External Affairs and IBCA attended the event. The IBCA, an inter-governmental international organisation headquartered in India, has been established for the conservation of seven big cats - Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar and Puma.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Yadav described the occasion as an important milestone towards a landmark global gathering dedicated to the conservation of the world’s iconic big cats. He informed that India would host the first IBCA Summit on 1st June 2026 in New Delhi, with participation expected from Heads of State/Government of Member and Observer countries. The Summit, guided by the theme ‘Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystem’, would bring together over 400 conservationists, policymakers, scientists, multilateral agencies, financial institutions, corporate leaders and community representatives from across the globe.

Highlighting India’s journey in big cat conservation, the Minister noted that it has been marked by commitment, innovation, scientific management, institutional collaboration and community participation. Referring to the success of Project Tiger and initiatives for lion, leopard, snow leopard and cheetah conservation, he stated that India has demonstrated that conservation and development can go hand in hand, strengthening ecosystems, improving livelihoods, resilience, and mitigating climate challenges.

Shri Yadav stated that India’s experience and a deep sense of global responsibility inspired the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to launch the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) in 2023. He described IBCA as a first-of-its-kind platform bringing together countries home to the seven big cats, reflecting India’s belief that conservation challenges must be addressed collectively through cooperation, knowledge sharing and mutual support.

The Minister emphasized that the upcoming Summit will be a defining moment in global conservation diplomacy, bringing together world leaders, experts and partners to deliberate on the future of big cat conservation. He underlined that the Summit will strengthen international partnerships, promote South-South cooperation, inspire collective action among big cat range countries and align conservation efforts with global biodiversity and climate goals. For the first time, world leaders will convene exclusively to deliberate on big cat conservation across continents, he added.

Shri Yadav informed that a key outcome of the Summit would be the adoption of the first-ever global declaration on big cat conservation, titled the ‘Delhi Declaration’, which will articulate shared priorities, strengthen transboundary cooperation and promote a landscape-based approach for conserving big cats and their habitats.

The Summit will be followed by technical sessions on 1st and 2nd June 2026, with participation from senior government officials, conservation practitioners, experts and partner organisations from 95 big cat range countries. A curated exhibition will also be organised during the Summit in collaboration with leading institutions and partners, showcasing tribal art, paintings on big cats, immersive photographs, films, virtual reality experiences and India’s best practices and achievements in big cat and biodiversity conservation.

On the launch of the IBCA Summit Website, the Minister said it would function as a dedicated global platform for outreach, engagement and information sharing It would also host the official IBCA Summit 2026 logo film that captures the Summit’s vision, conservation narrative and global relevance, thereby enhancing awareness, visibility and public engagement. The website will serve as the official digital identity of the Summit, ensuring consistency, authenticity and clarity in all communications.

Referring to the IBCA Summit Logo, Shri Yadav said that it captures the spirit of the initiative. He informed that the logo reflects harmony, balance and interconnected ecosystems. The logo features the seven big cat species at its core, symbolising unity and shared responsibility and is encircled by a lotus-inspired design representing the five elements of nature.

Concluding his address, the Minister urged all present to extend full support in ensuring participation at the highest level from their respective countries, emphasizing that leadership and engagement would be critical in making the Summit a global success. He also called upon big cat range countries not yet part of IBCA to join the Alliance to build a strong, inclusive and action-oriented platform for securing the future of these species.

Dignitaries on the dais included Shri Tanmay Kumar, Secretary, MoEFCC; Shri Sibi George, Secretary (West), MEA; Shri Sushil Kumar Awasthi, Director General (Forests) and Special Secretary, MoEFCC; and Shri S.P. Yadav, Director General, IBCA.

Cannes Film Festival 2026 l Press Release 2

©Universal Pictures

• The Fast and the Furious Takes Over Cannes
• A High-Octane Midnight Screening of the classic film that launched a global franchise, on the Croisette

MAY 6, 2026

The Fast and the Furious Takes Over Cannes

The 79th Festival de Cannes is set to host a high-speed cinematic event as The Fast and the Furious, the 2001 film that launched a worldwide cultural phenomenon, tears up the Croisette in spectacular fashion. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of a franchise that has conquered the globe and has left an indelible mark on cinema history, the Grand Théâtre Lumière will resonate with the unmistakable roar of engines on Wednesday, May 13 at 11.45pm.

On June 22, 2001, Universal Pictures released The Fast and the Furious, a high-octane thriller set amid the street-racing culture of Los Angeles. The film—produced by Neal H. Mortiz, directed by Rob Cohen, and starring Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto, Paul Walker as Brian O’Conner, Jordana Brewster as Mia and Michelle Rodriguez as Letty—would become a cinema-changing global sensation.

On Wednesday, May 13, at the Grand Lumière Theatre of the Palais des Festivals, the Festival de Cannes, this exceptional Midnight Screening will be attended by stars Vin Diesel, Jordana Brewster, producer Neal H. Mortiz, and Meadow Walker, the daughter of the film’s late star Paul Walker.

Over the course of eleven films that have stoked passion in an ever-expanding audience and have earned more than $7 billion U.S. at the worldwide box office, Universal’s record-smashing, homegrown Fast & Furious Saga has become the studio’s most-profitable and longest-running franchise. Featuring one the most thrilling and diverse casts of any major studio film series, the films’ core actors include Tyrese Gibson as Roman, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges as Tej, Sung Kang as Han, and Nathalie Emmanuel as Ramsey.

This year, Universal announced that a thrilling new chapter—Fast Forever—will race into theatres March 17, 2028.

Originally focused on street racing competitions, the franchise has continuously reinvented itself, featuring 25 years of mind-blowing, turbocharged car chases and increasingly insane stunts in exotic locations across the globe. Above all, the film series has endured and thrived because of the deep, familial bond between these unforgettable characters, and the connection between those characters and a devoted global audience of fans.

Over the decades, the cast has expanded to include some of the most famous and acclaimed actors of their time, including Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, Jason Statham, Eva Mendes, John Cena, Kurt Russell, Jason Momoa, and Academy Award® winners Helen Mirren, Brie Larson and Charlize Theron.

Advertorial l #TKMU Season 2 Participant l Anamika Shakya

By - Aanya

• Talennt Ka Maha Utsav Season 2

मेरा नाम अनामिका शाक्य है और मैं उदायन शालिनी फ़ेलोशिप के ग्रेटर नॉएडा चैप्टर की बैच ९वीं की शालिनी हूँ l

मैं जिला फर्रुखाबाद के एक छोटे से गाँव में रहने वाली हूँ और वर्तमान समय में मैं ग्रेटर नॉएडा (सूरजपुर) मेँ रहती हूँ l अभी हाल ही मेँ मैंने १२वीं की परीक्षा दी है जिसमे मैंने अच्छे अंक प्राप्त किये हैं और आगे मैं सरकारी नौकरी करना चाहती हूँ l

जीवन मेँ मैं अपने माता-पिता का विशेष रूप से धन्यवाद देना चाहती हूँ जिन्होंने मेरे लिए बहुत कुछ किया l मेरी मम्मी का नाम शशि शाक्य है, और पापा का नाम मनोज कुमार है l

मैं अपने मम्मी-पापा का सपना साकार करना चाहती हूँ, जीवन मेँ कुछ बनकर, कुछ बड़ा करकर l

वो चाहते हैं की मैं कोई सरकारी नौकरी करू और मैं उनका सपना ज़रूर पूरा करुँगी l

Talennt Ka Maha Utsav

#TKMU is a potent talent-platform and talent-show that gives each participant definite deliverables. #TKMU celebrates not only the participant but their parents as well,

World should know the hard-work parents put in!

Cannes Film Festival 2026 l Press Release 1

From left to right : Park Chan-wook © Lee Seung-hee / Demi Moore © Thomas Whiteside / Isaach De Bankolé © Larry Busacca /  Laura Wandel © Thomas Laisné / Paul Laverty © Joss Barratt  / Stellan Skarsgård © NEON / Ruth Negga © Justin Coit / Diego Céspedes © Tom Chenette  / Chloé Zhao © Christian Tierney

• The Jury of the 79th Festival de Cannes

May 4, 2026

Park Chan-wook © Lee Seung-hee / Demi Moore © Thomas Whiteside / Isaach De Bankolé © Larry Busacca / Laura Wandel © Thomas Laisné / Paul Laverty © Joss Barratt / Stellan Skarsgård © NEON / Ruth Negga © Justin Coit / Diego Céspedes © Tom Chenette / Chloé Zhao © Christian Tierney

As previously announced, the Jury of the 79th Festival de Cannes will be chaired by South Korean director, screenwriter and producer Park Chan-wook. He will be joined by American actress and producer Demi Moore, Irish-Ethiopian actress and producer Ruth Negga, Belgian director and screenwriter Laura Wandel, Chinese director and screenwriter Chloé Zhao, Chilean director and screenwriter Diego Céspedes, Ivorian-American actor Isaach De Bankolé, Scottish screenwriter Paul Laverty, and Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård.

The Jury will have the honor of awarding the Palme d’or to one of the 22 films in Competition, after Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident, presented by Juliette Binoche’s Jury, in 2025. The winners will be announced on Saturday, May 23 at the Closing Ceremony, broadcast live by France Télévisions in France and by Brut. internationally.

BBN INternship Program l Food as Cultural Ambassador

By - Jui Deshpande

Food is an underrated way of introducing your culture to the world. The way to the heart is through the stomach. It’s not just nourishment to the body but it represents the culture, identity, the living, the situation of any place. Across the world, different cuisines tell stories about history, geography, and the people who create them. In many ways, food acts as a cultural ambassador, introducing people to traditions and ways of life beyond their own. Opening up the mind and taste for something that is not your own.

The food and the ingredients used tells us a lot about the geography of the place. Like rice is staple in South India due to climate and agriculture  or the love for cheese in France reflects its dairy-rich regions. What people eat is often shaped by what is locally available.

Food also travels across borders, connecting cultures in an unexpected way. Indian cuisine is widely loved in the USA and UK. Korean Instant ramen is enjoyed by people across the globe. Italian pasta winning hearts in Asia. Mexican spice reaching the kitchens globally. This shows that even though we have different taste palettes, food is something people remain open to exploring.

Traditions and celebrations are integral to many cultures, and food often plays an important role in these events. Foods can be tied to specific events such as festivals, gatherings, and other special occasions. The use of traditional foods is an important way for us to not only sample the various cuisines of different parts of the world but also to understand the feelings associated with those foods.

In conclusion, while food serves the purpose of satisfying hunger, it also creates a bond between people, much like culture itself. It brings cultures and communities together in a simple and accessible way. Sometimes, the best way to understand a place is simply to experience what it offers on a plate.

Press Release l Ministry of Women and Child Development

The Ministry of Women and Child Development convened the first Preparatory Meeting of the BRICS Women’s Working Group on 30th April ,2026 in virtual mode under India’s BRICS Presidency.

The meeting was attended by representatives of BRICS member countries. The meeting was also attended by various Ministries and Departments of Government of India and knowledge partners including UN Women and Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

Ms. Caralyn Khongwar Deshmukh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, welcomed all delegates and set the tone for the discussions.

Guided by the theme of India’s BRICS chairship: ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability,’ the meeting had intensive discussions on key themes and common concerns of women globally, distilled into four priority areas. These include women in governance and leadership; financial and digital inclusion; women’s entrepreneurship and skill development; and women’s role in climate action, food security, and nutrition.

The meeting reaffirmed India’s commitment to encouraging women-led development, recognising women as key drivers of economic growth, governance, and social transformation.

BRICS member nations, in their interventions, congratulated India on its chairship, welcomed and supported the priority areas, imbibing the spirit of cooperation and learning.

The discussions will contribute towards key outcomes to be culminated in the BRICS Women Working Group Meeting (6–7 July 2026) and the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting (8–9 July 2026) to be held in Kochi, Kerala.

Press Release l Ministry of Defence

The Indian Coast Guard hosted an Italian delegation, including senior representatives from M/S Fincantieri, at Coast Guard Headquarters, New Delhi, on 30 April 2026. Discussions focused on collaboration with Indian shipyards for future projects, highlighting advanced design features such as resilient hulls for higher sea states, enhanced bollard pull, integrated firefighting systems, and hybrid/electric propulsion. The dialogue also explored modular ship design to enable versatile, multi-role platforms with rapid operational adaptability.

Both sides deliberated on the indigenous development and co-development of niche technologies, including dynamic positioning systems, advanced thrusters, AI-enabled decision support, counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS)/anti-drone defence, and next-generation green propulsion, in alignment with the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

The interaction served as a forward-looking platform to advance cooperation in shipbuilding, maritime technology, and capability development aligned with India’s maritime security priorities.

The delegation called on Director General Indian Coast Guard  DG Paramesh Sivamani. It included Counselor Anna Ruffino, Head of the Economics and Innovation Department, Embassy of Italy, and Mr. Eugenio Santagata, Head of the Military Naval Vessel Division, Fincantieri.

News Shorts l International Election Visitors’ Programme

By - Aanya

Glimpses of the International delegates under the International Election Visitors’ Programme (IEVP) witnessing the conduct of polls in Siliguri & Kurseong, West Bengal during their two-day visit in April 2026.

Press Release l Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs

• GUJARAT INSTITUTION TURNS WASTE INTO BIOGAS, COOKS 500+ MEALS DAILY

Demonstrating how efficient waste management can enable energy self-reliance and sustainability, an educational institution in Gandhinagar prepares 500+ meals daily using two biogas plants, eliminating LPG dependence.

In a compelling example of innovation under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, an educational institution in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, has demonstrated how scientific waste management can drive energy self-reliance and sustainability.

The Shrimati Manekba Vinay Vihar Educational Complex, located near Adalaj and managed by the Vasumati Charitable Trust, has eliminated its dependence on conventional LPG by transitioning to a biogas-based cooking system. The campus now prepares meals daily for over 500 individuals - including approximately 250 hostel students served twice a day and 15 staff families residing on campus.

The institution operates two biogas plants with a combined capacity of 90 cubic metres per day. These plants utilise dung from 222 cows housed in the trust's cowshed, along with kitchen waste and agricultural residue from nearby fields. The biogas generated meets the institution's entire cooking fuel requirement, negating the need for LPG cylinders entirely.

"We have become self-reliant in cooking gas under Gujarat government's Institutional Biogas Plant Scheme. The cows provide sufficient dung, and the slurry produced after gas generation is used as manure in our fields, enabling fully organic farming. Without this plant, we would require around 30 LPG cylinders every month”, said officials.

Biogas, produced through the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste, is among the most viable, economical and environmentally friendly cooking fuels available. The by-product slurry, that is rich in nitrogen, serves as an effective organic fertiliser, reducing dependence on chemical inputs, lowering costs and maintaining soil fertility. This delivers dual benefit from a single initiative.

The Gujarat Energy Development Agency (GEDA) provides financial assistance for biogas plants with capacities ranging from 25 to 85 cubic metres. Non-profit institutions are eligible for up to 75% subsidy, making the transition financially accessible for a wide range of organisations.

Over the past five years, approximately 193 institutional biogas plants have been established across Gujarat. Gujarat continues to advance alternative energy and sustainable development, reducing pollution, achieving energy self-sufficiency and enabling the scientific disposal of organic waste from gaushalas and educational institutions alike.

In line with the objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, such initiatives reflect how cities and institutions are emerging as frontrunners in the journey towards sustainability. By adopting innovative, circular approaches to waste management, they are not only reducing environmental impact but also unlocking the value of waste as a resource. From generating clean energy to promoting organic practices, these efforts highlight a scalable pathway for urban India, where scientific waste management, community participation, and forward-looking policies together pave the way for cleaner, greener, and more self-reliant cities.